Who put the M in Manchester

Sanctuary Visual Entertainment

ANYBODY who thought Morrissey's contribution to British pop music was all written up in the history books got a rude awakening last year.

Emerging from his LA exile with a cracking new album, Mozzer swanned back into Manchester in May with a swagger and a smile (yes, a smile) to pack the MEN Arena for a 45th birthday homecoming gig.

Those who missed out on what was, by ALL the accounts of those that were there, a very special night can now eavesdrop on proceedings thanks to the miracle of DVD.

Who Put the M in Manchester features all of that concert and a few extras - a package well worth having.

Apparently 2004 was Morrissey's most successful year to date. His You Are The Quarry album scored platinum sales, he enjoyed four consecutive top 10 singles (and was the only artist to achieve this in 2004), bagged Brit Award nomination and played festival and sold out arena dates.

Had he come back from the wilderness with a so-so album nobody would have been very surprised - but the fact is the new songs that feature on this DVD are probably his best solo stuff to date. From Irish Blood, English Heart through to I'm Not Sorry there really isn't a dud in the bunch.

Allied to the various romps through selected Smiths classics (There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, Shoplifters of the World Unite, Rubber Ring,The Headmaster Ritual) the set is impeccable.

Extras include five tracks (all from You Are The Quarry) lifted from Morrissey's equally triumphant return to the Stretford stomping ground of his youth last summer when he headlined the final night of the Move festival, plus a handful of 2004 music videos.

We could have done without the intro from the sycophantic Yank fan, but on the whole a better record of Morrissey's electrifying comeback is hard to imagine.